I honestly think putting a thermometer inside the unit is an excellent idea. I sent the following note off to Harvest Right Support in an effort to gain a little better understanding of the process.
Reattached hose and ran another full system test (results, 750 mTorr lowest steady reading - looking through the oil level window, some bubbling seen in oil even after an hour of pumpdown - some "air" noises from pump)
Our electricity was very high when we had it in AK because our electric company charged a lot, but in Texas, it’s very cheap to run. I don’t mind that I can’t freeze dry some things, as most of the things that you can’t freeze dry, you can purchase commercially or they shelf stable as is. For instance, I don’t freeze dry butter, but I do buy powdered butter. Oh, here’s one more potential con:
Truth be told, there isn’t much of a difference in terms of interface, but the Pharmaceutical models do offer a bit more customization in terms of settings. The Home Pro models however get the job done just as well and have bigger capacity for the money.
The pros and cons are easy to understand. In fact, there really is only one pro and it’s a huge one. Those who are willing to spend the time and money to freeze dry their own food should do so as long as they’re going to be committed.
Furthermore, the latest systems automation along with remote monitoring offer opportunities for will enable businesses to minimize the workforce, errors, and operational costs while maximizing production. Understanding the process of freeze drying will make new equipment investments easier for businesses by changing their purchasing strategies.
The longevity of freeze dried food depends on the what the food is and how it is stored. When stored in a mylar bag with an oxygen absorber, many foods can last up to 25 years. If stored in a glass mason jar with an oxygen absorber and a vacuum sealed lid, food can last about 5 years.
After buying our freeze dryer I was naturally curious as to how it "knew" when something was done, since batch times varied so much depending on what was being processed. Watching the cycle times didn't seem to tell me anything at first -- especially without a thermometer to tell me what was happening inside -- until I finally caught on that applying heat to the frozen food affected the vacuum, which provided the measure of how dry the food had become.
•The system records and maintains a log of the pressure and temperature during all parts of the freeze-dry cycle.
Foods with lots of seeds can be freeze dried but usually take longer. That’s because the seeds hold moisture. If you’re processing strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes, and kiwis you’ll need to add Em excesso time. I like to add at least 12 hours when processing these foods.
As a bonus, freeze-dried products are lightweight making them desirable for outdoor activities, emergency kits, and even space missions. Food manufacturers looking to broaden their offerings find freeze-drying prepackaged food as an enticing option because of the increased safety of food and reduced waste.
We can take these meals with us when we travel as well as when my son goes on Scout camp outs or activities with his friends. Buying a freeze dryer has made life a lot easier for our family.
Now that I've filled you in on why the most affordable freeze dryer is the small Harvest Right, let's talk about how you can score one without breaking the bank.
You can choose to season meat either before or after the freeze drying process. I prefer Buy Now to season cooked meats before processing and leave raw meat unseasoned. Then the meat can be seasoned later before it’s cooked.